It’s the perpetrator who is responsible

I would like to express my opinion about sexual abuse after having read the letter in Nunatsiaq News, “Child molester was victim of Ed Horne,” (Aug. 1).

Who is to blame? I say the perpetrators themselves, no one else, whether they are survivors or victims of sexual abuse or not.

Yes, it is unfair and unjust that victims turn into abusers. But I say that they are curable and have to want to get over the pain of their own sexual abuse. They have to stop being their abuser’s victim. They have to strive to become survivors, because there is a difference – a victim is still under the control of his or her sexual abuser.

A survivor is somebody who decided to deal with the pain and to go through the pain and then move on. Eventually, a person who has dealt with their abuse will come upon a day when they themselves will find themselves helping other survivors.

The court has to realize that sexual abuse of any sort is a crime that deserves to be taken seriously.

House arrest is just a set-up for failure. It’s no wonder some abusers commit more crimes when they could be in jail, hopefully seeking help for their sickness.

As for Ed Horne, I myself have very personal issues toward him, as he has hurt my childhood by hurting my brothers. But life goes on.

I do not know if receiving a big lump sum of money was their choice, but I say it was a bad set-up for failure for most of the people that he has hurt. Yes, money today seems to be the only means of living, but the reality is that for some it was a very bad set-up, especially when there is easy access to drugs and alcohol.

I’m hoping that something will be done to better the system that is in effect, because it is not working for some of his victims.

I’ve already lost one brother to suicide, and I don’t want to lose another to a system that I know can be made better by the right people. I’m hoping that something can be done.

(Name withheld by request)
Cape Dorset